Bobbin clutch



Feb.`21, 1933. ..HMAG'RATQ 1,893,553

BOBBIN CLUTCH' Filed July 29,]1932 Invazor; lj Gear EN far ff @y W M4 y@ A Y myst Patented Feb. 21, 1933 UNITED" STATES Groer: manera. or wnirmsvrttn, MASSACHUSETTS :BoBBrN CLUTCH 3 V Y 'Appneafion 'sled July 29, 1932. serial No. 625,972.

This invention relates to bobbin clutches of the type havingV expansible clutching members which maintain the bobbin iirmly ,in position during the spinning. operation. 5' Such devices are driven at very highspeeds and are lquite often subjected to vibrations and such severe usage that the spring member which holds the clutchinoi members in 1,expanded position either brealis or fails to IBJfunction properly, and in either case it is necessary to dismember the device and either readjust or replace the spring. As such members as the case or sleeve and the cap Mlfor seating the bobbin have ay pressed fit 15Nabout the blade and whirl, it is practically impossible to dismember such a .device -witliout destroying those members. Furthermore, in order to vary the frictional engage- M.ment or grip of the clutching members, it is 'Lnecessary either to readjust or replace the spring member, which likewise necessitates dismembering the device and providing a new cap and case. The cost of making such Mrepairs and readjustments, as well as the `time and resulting inconvenience, adds considerably to the expense of the spinning operation and in the course of a year amounts to an appreciable sum.- The principal object of this invention is Wto provide a bobbin clutch which is so constructed that the spring member may be easily and quickly replaced without dismembering the entire device or injuring or dealstroying any of the constituent parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bobbin clutch which is of simple and durable construction having but Vfew parts, which is economical to manufacture and greasy to assemble, and which is generally spperior to those .clutches heretofore used. Further ,objects will be apparent from a consideration of the following` description and .the accompanying drawing which shows KI-diderent embodiments, of the invention chosen for the purpose of illustration,

In the drawing: V Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in verti- Mcal section, of a bobbin clutch embodying A"one forml of the invention;

Fig. 2 isa section on the line 2 2 Yof Fig. 1; f Figs. 3 and 4 are plan and side views, res" spectively, of the cap member shown in'55g Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section, similar to Fig:

1, showing a modified form ofthe invention;`

Figs. '6 and 7 are respective plan a-nd side views, with parts broken away, of the cap 6dr# member shown in Fig. '5;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section illustrating another modification; and

Fig. 9 isa view of an alternative orm'of spring member.

Thev bottin durch Shown in Figs. 1 tot-65 comprises a blade l having a whirl 2rigidly secu-red thereto in the usual manner. The upper face of the whirl is provided with an annular concentric recess 3 surroundin the Y neck l and spaced inwa-rdly from the s oul- 70 der 5;"A cap 6, which is of rigid construction and having a cylindrical sha-pe, has a pressed fit about the whirl with :its upperface spaced from that of the whirl. As-

shown more clearly in Figs. 3 and'vt, the capy 7,5

is provided with a plurality of circumferenj tially spaced openings which extend radiallythereof and communicate with the circumferential groove 8 on the outer face of the cap adjacent to its upper face 9 which pro- 180 vides an annular seat for thebobbin.

Mounted on the blade 1 and in spaced coaxial relation to the whirl is a case 12, which is of usual construction, having a plurality of symmetrically disposed downwardly exi tending spaced fingers 13 which project below thefupper face A'9 of the cap. The lbobbin clutching members 14 are circu-mposed about the blade with their contact segments 1 5 disposed lin the slots between the case fingers 13 90- and are ulcrurnedV about their lower ends, which are sea-ted in the annular recess, as" shown in Fig. 1. The lower ends of the clutch members a-re provided with laterally offset portions or `arms 16 'which project out: 95 wardly through the openings 7, while their upper ends are lipped and extendinteriorlyof the case 12 which limits the outward radial movement of the contact segments rel# ative to the blade. An annular contractileM100 spring 18 is disposed in the circumferential groove 8 and being normally under tension yieldingly engages the end portions of the arm 16 thereby to hold the contact segments in expanded position as shown in Fig. 1.

In this particular embodiment the circumferential groove 8 is provided with a beveled upper surface, as shown Ain Fig. 4, which causes the spring member 18 to act downwardly at an angle upon the upper surface of the arm 16. The depth of the groove 8 is preferably suoli as to protect the spring member 18 against injury and also to prevent any danger of accidental displacement thereof. It will be noted that this construction permits 'the quick removal and replacement of the spring member without dismembering or injuring any of the other elements, and without sacrificing any of the advantageous features characteristic of prior constructions.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the construction ofthe blade, whirl and case are substantially identical to the corresponding members shown in Figs. 1 to 4:, while the cap 6a is somewhat similar, comprising a. cylindrical body portion having circumferentially spaced radial openings 7 which communicate with circumferential groove 8a which is of semi-circular cross section. The clutching members 14, as in the previous embodiment, kare fulcrumed about their ends to rock radially of the blade and are provided with laterally extending arms 16a which project through the openings 7 in the cap and terminate in downwardly directed feet 17. 'Ihe coil spring 18 is disposed in the Vgroove 8a and yieldingly engagesV the feet 17 and normally holds the contact segments in expanded position.

In the construction shownin Fig. 8 the blade, cap and case are substantially the' same as those shown in the previously described embodiment, but the annular recess in the upper face of the whirl is dispensed with. The L-shape clutch members 24 are seated on the upper face of the whirl and are fulcrumed about the neck 4 with their lateral arms 25 projecting through the radial openings in the cap. Preferably the end portions of the arms 25 are grooved to receive the spring member 18, which normally holds the contact segments in expanded position.

lIn place of the coil or .helical spring member 18 shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 8 aresilient split ring 30, as shown in Fig. 9, may be used. In either case the spring member may be easily drawn over the cap and accurately positioncd in the circumferential groove, and may also be quickly removed without injury totheA cap, case, or clutching members.

While I yhave shown and described certain desirable embodiments of the invention, it is to be 'understood that the present disclosure kcumposed about said blade and fulcrumed to rock radially thereof, said Contact means having offset portlons projecting outwardly through the .openings 1n said cap, and meansV circ'umposed about said cap for yieldingly engaging said offset portions to move said contactmeans outwardly from said blade.

2. A bobbin clutch comprising a blade, a whirl secured to the blade, a cap fitting about the whirl, said cap having a plurality of spaced openings, bobbin contact means circumposed about lsaid blade and fulcrumed torock radially thereof, V{saidcontact means having offset portions projecting outwardly through the openings in said cap, means for limiting the outward movement of said contact means, and means circumposed about said'cap for yieldingly engaging said offset portions to move said contact means outwardly from said blade. 1

3. A bobbin clutch comprising a blade, a whirl secured to the blade, a cap fitting about the whirl, said cap having a plurality vof spaced openings, a case mounted on the blade and having downwardly extending spaced fingers, bobbin contact means disposed in the spaces between said fingers and fulcrumed to rock radially of said` blade, said'contact means having laterally offset portions projecting outwardly through the openings in said cap, and an annular resilient-member circumposed about said cap 'for yieldingly engaging said offset portions to move said contact means outwardly from said blade.

11. A bobbin clutch comprising a blade, ay

whirl secured to the blade, a cap .fitting about the whirl, said cap having a pluralityof spaced openings extending radially. thereof and a. circumferential groove on its outer face communicating with said opening, bobbin clutching members circumposed about said said Contact members having laterally offset portions project-ing outwardly through the openings in said cap, and an annular resilient member disposed in said groove and yield ingly engaging said offset portions to rock said clutching members outward-1y from said blade. I K Y 5. A bobbin clutch comprising a blade, a whirl securedto said blade having an annular recess in its upperface concentric with the blade and fulcrumed to rock radially thereof, 112 Y blade, a cap fitting about the whirl, said cap having a plurality of spaced openings extending radially thereof and a circumferential groove on its o'uter face communicating with said openings, bobbin clutching ymembers circumposed about said blade with the lower ends seated in said recess and providing fulcrum axes, said clutching members having laterally extending arms projecting outwardly through the openings in said cap, and an annular resilient member disposed in said groove and yieldingly' engaging the outer ends of said arms to rock said clutching members outwardly in radial directions.

6. A bobbin clutch comprising a blade, a whirl secured to said blade having an annular recess in its upper face concentric with the blade, a case mounted on the blade and having downwardly extending spaced fingers, a cap fitting about the whirl, said cap having a plurality of spaced openings extending radially thereof and a circumferential groove on its outer face communicating vwith said openings, bobbin clutching members disposed in the spaces between said fingers with their lower ends disposed in said recess and their upper ends extending interiorly of the case, said members having laterally extending arms projecting outwardly through the openings in said cap, and an annular spring disposed in said groove and yieldingly engaging the outer ends of said `arms to rock said clutching members outwardly in radial directions.

7. A bobbin clutch comprising a blade, a whirl secured to said blade, a case mounted on the blade and having downwardly extending spaced fingers, a cap fitting about the Whirl, said cap having a plurality of spaced openings extending radially thereof, L- shaped clutching members having contact segments disposed in the spaces between said fingers and fulcrumed to rock radially of said Y blade, the lower ends of said members projecting outwardly through the openings in said cap and their upper ends extending interiorly of the case, and an annular spring circumposed about said cap and yieldingly engaging the lower ends of said clutching members to urge said contact segments outwardly from the blade. n

8. A bobbin clutch comprising a blade, a whirl member on the blade, bobbin contact means disposed about the blade to rock radially thereof and having offset portions projecting outwardly adjacent the upper end of the whirl member, a cap member having a portion overlying said offset portions, one of said members having peripheral openings, and spring means acting upon said offset portions through said openings yieldingly to rock said contact means against the bobbin.

9. A bobbin clutch comp-rising a blade, a 

